Port Orleans French Quarter FAQ thread - Refurbished for 2011 - Now CLOSED

[DSLRuser]

I am currently sitting by the pofq pool side eating benets. We arrived Saturday and did express check in. To 2 mins and room was ready at 11am. Building 7. The bew rooms are great and the resort is in great shape.

We walked to the riverside pool yesterday and it was packed mid day. So we are staying at our pool. Much les crowded.

 

[MrsB1228]

DSLRuser I want to be where you are! Eating beignets while sitting by the POFQ pool sounds heavenly right about now. Great to hear that your room was available in the morning and express check-in went smoothly!

Disneyfan61, thanks for posting your impressions of the resort, especially concerning the beds as that seems to be the topic that concerns a lot of us. My sister and I are going to be there for two weeks in September and we definitely don't want rock-hard beds! Although we're still at Disney so we'd deal with it, LOL! I can't wait to see your pictures!

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to do these live reports!

 

[DSLRuser]

In regards to bus service. In mornings and night time. Fq has it's own bus service going to the parks. It only seems that the fq guests go pick up riverside guests on the less crowded mid day runs. And that only added 11 mins to the trip.

Excuse my spelling. Posting from iPhone and the sun is bright. Plus all this sun screen and my Mai tai prohibit good spelling.

We check out tomorrow. After a day at coaco beach we check into the each club for another 4 nights.

 

[pooh2001]

Thank you for this thread. We like POFQ & CSR - they both seem great for different reasons. CSR better pool for our teens, but POFQ seems easier to get around.

We really appreciate all the DIS'ers who have great reviews of POFQ.

I think it will be our moderate choice for POFQ.

My DS has even begun to look at his food options at POFQ - hey a 20 year old young man - yes food is one of the most important things in his life

 

[disneydreamgirl]

Excuse my spelling. Posting from iPhone and the sun is bright. Plus all this sun screen and my Mai tai prohibit good spelling.

Now you're just rubbing it in! Wow, do I ever wish I was there, too! I am really looking forward to staying at POFQ in October.

 

[maxsmom]

I was 1st wondering about the toiletries in the room. We usually stay at Coronado but I've always wanted to stay here. I know what Coronado has but we were at riverside for 1 night 2 yrs ago and they were not the same. I usually don't pack any but I remember that at riverside I would have had to. So what do have there now that referb is done?

2nd was wondering what building to request. We drive everywhere b/c we feel it's way simpler and quicker when you have a stroller to deal with. So we want to be close to parking, food, and then pool. The 1st 2 are the most important. I was thinking building 4 then 3. Should I stick w/ just those two or put in a 3rd. Like a specific building or generic suc as close to the above mentioned things? Thanks for your help!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Today I decided on a whim to see if I can save money using the new room only discounts that came out. I've already got a room only ressie for Sept. booked at POFQ at a 25% discount.

I went online and POFQ is sold out for my dates on that new discount and POR was available but it was 60.00 more so I think I'll keep my original room only discount.

I'm very jealous of DSLRuser! Have a great time!

 

[mdrob214]

Only if you are taking Magical Express to the airport will they send the luggage ahead.

Actually, anyone can use RAC (Remote Airline Check-in) from the resort to the airport. You don't have to be using ME. To get your luggage transferred upon arrival, though, you must use ME. So different rules for each direction. Confusing, isn't it?

 

[RachelTori]

I was 1st wondering about the toiletries in the room. We usually stay at Coronado but I've always wanted to stay here. I know what Coronado has but we were at riverside for 1 night 2 yrs ago and they were not the same. I usually don't pack any but I remember that at riverside I would have had to. So what do have there now that refurb is done?

2nd was wondering what building to request. We drive everywhere b/c we feel it's way simpler and quicker when you have a stroller to deal with. So we want to be close to parking, food, and then pool. The 1st 2 are the most important. I was thinking building 4 then 3. Should I stick w/ just those two or put in a 3rd. Like a specific building or generic such as close to the above mentioned things? Thanks for your help!

No, they didn't upgrade the toiletries with the refurbishment -- still the shampoo/conditioner-in-one; plus 2 bar soaps.

Requesting "building 4 or 3" should be sufficient to get you in a good location for your needs. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to have them add "near parking lot". When I was there in February, I was in Building 4 with a parking lot view and it was a great location - several steps away from the food area, plus easy access to both the parking lot and the bus stop! (and there was never any noise! )

HTHs!

 

[onelilspark]

We just got back (literally about 4 hours ago!) from our trip & stay at Port Orleans French Quarter. Some background: there was my fiancé & myself in one room, King bed and then my Mom & Dad in another room, King bed. We were just down for the Holiday weekend, checked in Friday night and checked out this morning.

We had a fantastic trip. My last trip in December, I stayed at All Star Movies and it was just not magical. I was a little concerned that Disney was slipping, but this trip restored my faith. FQ has always been my favorite resort in all of WDW and after this stay, it has confirmed it's place at the top. I just love it. As I mentioned, in my group we had 2 King rooms booked. Before leaving, there was some discussion about the King beds, but we did not do online check-in and neither of us had problems getting a King room. We also both had corner rooms in building 5. My fiance and I were on the ground floor, one window overlooked the courtyard, the other overlooked the river. My parents' windows both had river views. The refurb was gorgeous, rooms were spotless & the housekeepers were really on-top of things. I have absolutely no complaints. The one night we came back and the movie was going on and we couldn't hear anything from our room. If I had to nit-pick, it took longer than necessary to check-in on Friday night. We took all of 5 minutes to check-in, I don't understand why some people take so long.

Anyway, when it comes down to it, I really have nothing but positive things to say about our stay. Here are a few pictures!

...I guess that's more than a few

 

[cherylg85]

Thanks for sharing, onelilspark!! You've made me so much more excited for my trip that starts on Wednesday night!



Question for all: Does anyone know the pool hours for POFQ? I can't seem to find them online. Thanks!

 

[MrsB1228]

Thank you for sharing your impressions and pictures onelilspark! Our trip isn't until September but I'm living vicariously through others until then. LOL! The resort looks wonderful and your rooms were gorgeous, so glad you had a great vacation!

 

[weheartdisney]

Thanks for the photos. Glad you all had a great time! We love Building 5!

We haven't stayed there since they started showing movies. Anyone have any photos? Is there a movie shown nightly - or just certain nights? Thanks!!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Well....we're going to POFQ!!!

We did a resort change from the Poly to POFQ because of $$, and now I get to go back to my "home"! YAYYY!!

SO excited! 55 days!

 

[maxsmom]

No, they didn't upgrade the toiletries with the refurbishment -- still the shampoo/conditioner-in-one; plus 2 bar soaps.

Requesting "building 4 or 3" should be sufficient to get you in a good location for your needs. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to have them add "near parking lot". When I was there in February, I was in Building 4 with a parking lot view and it was a great location - several steps away from the food area, plus easy access to both the parking lot and the bus stop! (and there was never any noise! )

HTHs!

Well, that kind of stinks. I wonder why they all don't have the same toiletries. I guess I'll have to pack some now.

As far as rooms from the pictures those corner rooms look amazing! I may request corner, top floor, close to food and parking. Or would that be too much?

 

[andrewilley]

Question for all: Does anyone know the pool hours for POFQ? I can't seem to find them online. Thanks!

Not been looking all that hard then, as it's in the first post of this very FAQ thread!

Or, in more detail, from http://www.portorleans.org/doubloon-lagoon.php:

Opening hours: 7am until midnight, although it’s not uncommon to still find people swimming well after that.
Lifeguard duty hours vary by season, and the water features and slide only operate while lifeguards are present.
Generally, lifeguards are on duty from 10am—10pm from the end of May until the end of August, with shorter hours of 10am—8pm during the rest of the year.

Andre

 

[cherylg85]

Not been looking all that hard then, as it's in the first post of this very FAQ thread!

Or, in more detail, from http://www.portorleans.org/doubloon-lagoon.php:


Andre

LOL, I swear I read through this thing. I think I'm losing my mind. My husband asked me a bunch of questions last night that I'm sure I've had memorized for months, but with all this planning running through my head in the final days I couldn't even remember which days we were planning to go to which parks.
Thanks

 

[RachelTori]

Well, that kind of stinks. I wonder why they all don't have the same toiletries. I guess I'll have to pack some now.

As far as rooms from the pictures those corner rooms look amazing! I may request corner, top floor, close to food and parking. Or would that be too much?

OK, this is JMO but I'd drop the "corner room" part of the request (or move it to the last item requested). There are corner rooms that don't have the extra window and there are corner rooms that are near stairs and prone to noise.

Also, in making requests, the 1st one or two things listed are probably what will be looked at most closely. So you could end up with a corner room NOT near food & parking (although with the small size of the resort, that wouldn't be so bad!)

 

[Hootch]

[Quaote]2nd was wondering what building to request. We drive everywhere b/c we feel it's way simpler and quicker when you have a stroller to deal with. So we want to be close to parking, food, and then pool. The 1st 2 are the most important. I was thinking building 4 then 3. Should I stick w/ just those two or put in a 3rd. Like a specific building or generic suc as close to the above mentioned things? Thanks for your help![/QUOTE]

with the PP that Bldg 4 is an ideal location for the parking lot. Some people worry about the "parking lot view". There is a bit of land between the building and the parking lot and the landscaping maintains the theming.

What we have found useful is to ask for Bldg 5 then 4 near Sassagoula Floatworks. We have usually been able to get building 5 near the food court. That gives us short walks for the pool, the boat to DTD, the parking lot, the food court and the buses for MK days.

 

[onelilspark]

Our room was right next to the stairs, but it was seriously very quiet.

I forgot I took a picture of the hair dryer:

Never tried it because I brought my own.